(This is the first time I've ever posed with a rainbow for my blog. I was a very happy camper to get this shot!)

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Sometimes, in the midst of all of summer's more free flowing, airy, casual ensembles, one starts craving the hard hitting glamour that so often accompanies the chillier half of the year. When that mood has struck me lately, I've reached instantly for this beguilingly chic 1940s style straw tilt hat, which I was recently sent as a wonderful review gift from the German brand Tate Millinery.

My favourite styles of hat in the whole wide world are tilt and platter, so when the two have the chance to come together in a singular topper like this, I start floating around merrily on the fashion accessory version of cloud nine.

Tate Millinery is helmed by designer Karen Cavallaro and each of her products is lovingly and skillfully made by hand. Today is actually Kate's birthday, so it seemed like an absolutely perfect time to debut this wonderful hat from her line.

Kate very sweetly let me pick any of her hats that my heart desired to receive as a review gift, as the moment I laid eyes on the black and sandy-pale gold coloured 1940s style gem, I was hooked instantly and knew that was the Tate Millinery chapeau for me (thank you so much for it, Karen!).

Classic, ladylike and very versatile, this black straw hat can be worn on the side, top or back of the head; is feather light, and looks the mid-century part to a tee. It's also very airy, comfortable, and well made, thus making it a perfect choice for summer and year round wear in general.

I was honoured to receive this gorgeous hat, which you can purchase from Tate Millinery's online shop for €79.90 (Euros), and knew the moment it arrived, that I was going to style it with the colour palette that you see here in these photos.

Much like I discussed regarding the pairing of black and navy blue together (in this post), one of the oldest and most oft repeated fashion myths is that black and brown can't play nicely and shouldn't be worn in the same outfit.

Balderdash, I say! Not only do the two look wildly sophisticated together, but pairing them can be a great way to breath new life into pieces that you own in both colours. The combination is also handy because while black or brown on its own might not look awesome near your face (depending on your personal colouring), chances are that one of the two will and you can sport that up top, as I've done here with brown, which is more flattering to my skin tone than black, and then the other down on the bottom and/or as accent pieces throughout.

Given the refined design of the hat and the powerful mid-century vibe it telegraphs, I opted for an understated ensemble that I thought would play well with both of those points.

On the day when these photos were taken - which included a gorgeous rainbow over Okanagan Lake, that we were able to quickly pull over on the side of the highway and a snap with, before continuing on to our intended photo shoot location in town, the end of the River Channel Parkway down by Skaha Lake - I reached for one of my all-time favourite button front shirts, a classic brown number from Banana Republic, along with a black vintage pencil skirt, and various accessories in both black and brown.

A somewhat more subdued colour palette than I often sport, I actually truly loved how black and brown brought visual interest to each other and am glad that I refrained from introducing other hues (save for a little bit of brass and gold care of my accessories) into the mix.

Summer is often two warm for a skirt suit outdoors (especially if it's not silk or linen), but a skirt and blouse or button front shirt can look nearly as dressy, yet spare you from wilting faster than a lettuce leaf under the broiler. Thus this is the kind of look I'd reach for if I had a work related meeting, important appointment, wedding, funeral, or other more formal event to attend, but (again) didn't want to bake under the weight of a suit - especially since the beautiful tilt hat helps to more than makeup for the lack of a jacket in terms of elegance here.

I've been wanting to do an outfit post to show how nicely black and brown can get along for ages upon ages now, and am delighted that this gorgeous straw hat from Tate Millinery gave me the opportunity to do so. This is my first product from the brand - who offers a wide range of handmade vintage inspired hats and fascinators - and I love it to no end.

Believe me when I say, this is a hat that I will reach for time and time again, month after month, year after year. It's both beautiful and fun, weighs next to nothing and can be styled in anywhere from a 1930s to an early 1960s direction, just depending on what you partner it with. You don't have to opt for black and brown, but given how splendidly it works with this dark colour duet, why wouldn't you want to do so at least every now and then. I know I'll certainly be continuing to, especially once we get into autumn again.

For now though, thankfully, that point is still a couple of months away and I'm going to keep on enjoying this enchantingly pretty 1940s style Tate Millinery hat with everything from office worthy attire to cocktail frocks to circle skirt, and adore that its neutral colour means that it will play nicely with - if you'll permit a bit of an intentional pun/reference - a rainbow of colours all year round! :)

79 comments:

Beautiful hat - I am so very jealous! It is exactly what I need to complete this perfect outfit I have in mind so I'm gonna have to check it out! So so beautiful Jessica! I seriously envy your keen eyes for details. You are so good at picking accessories!! :)

Thank you very much for the splendidly nice compliments, dear Nora. Accessorizing and an emphasis on colour coordination are extremely near and dear to my heart and are things that I strive for in very nearly every outfit (yes, hee-hee, even my pj's and loungewear around the house). I don't think that things need look or be contrived or painfully matchy-matchy, just elegantly and harmoniously well coordinated whenever possible.

Many thanks again - and I do hope you find a special hat for yourself if you check out Tate Millinery. They're offerings are both breathtaking and often marvelously vintage looking!

Thank you very much, sweet Carmella - that's so wonderfully kind of you to say. I would like it if this skirt was longer (it's not as flattering as if it hit me mid-calf, but for the warmer months, it works well), but otherwise I'm with on the fit factor for sure.

I hope that you're doing well and having a splendid last week of July - big hugs!♥ Jessica

What an immensely lovely - and very blush inducingly sweet - compliment. I see that here, too, and love it because I feel like this outfit does a very good job of summing up the directions in which my vintage fashion tastes are leaning (or more heavily leaning) as I get older.

That really is a beautiful hat ❤ I have teamed black and brown together in the past, but I don't think I have seen many people do the same. It's a combination which I think looks incredibly chic and classy so I wonder why x

I couldn't have said it better myself, dear Melanie. I think it's a pairing that was a lot more common in the years of the mid-twentieth century and earlier, but which, for some odd reason, is rarely seen nowadays, even amongst us vintage loving folks. Perhaps this post can spark, in our little circle at least, more of a resurgence of interest in it - particularly come autumn time, when the two suit the season's palette especially well.

That's wonderfully sweet of you to say, dear Merethe. Thank you deeply! I will pass along your compliment about the photos to Tony. He was such a dear to squeeze in a few shoots, including this one, in the super busy days before left to go work in the States this summer.

such a classy outfit!!! the hat is a real gem - you will get a lot of wear out of it because it will pair nicely with a lot of looks. i´m a fan of black and brown (and black with other dark colors) too. it´s very elegant and sophisticated!and what a great moment to catch the rainbow and you in one pic!!!!xxxxx

Thank you very much, my sweet friend. I completely agree! The colour palette, design, and width of this hat (which is also wonderfully featherweight) will ensure it's a frequent player in my wardrobe. I love it to bits and can't thank Tate Millinery again enough for this fantastic, generous review gift and boon to my chapeau collection.

It really was!!! There are certainly things that I really want to capture on camera for my blog and myself with a rainbow has long been one of them. Hopefully other chances to do so will spring up in the future, too.

What a gorgeous outfit and amazing hat! I love how bold this outfit is, the black+brown clothing and accessories really compliment and showcase your hat. I recently bought a beautiful 1950s tilt hat that I look forward to wearing! x

Ooohhh, happiest congrats on your new 1950s tilt hat purchase. I adore tilt hats so much - they tie with cartwheel/wide brimmed hats as my favourite styles ever (especially on myself). If you share it on your blog, I will eagerly look forward to seeing it there.

Thank you very much for your lovely comment and compliments, sweet Kayla. I hope that your week is off to a splendid start!

That's always been my stance, too. They play wonderfully together, especially, if you ask me, in more formal/business wear contexts - plus, could you have a more perfect palette for autumn, particularly October?

Thank you very much for your lovely comment. I hope that you're having a great summer. It feels like ages since we last caught up!

Thank you very much, dear Emileigh. This is not only my favourite belt that I currently, but that I've ever owned. I bought it for a mere song (under $10 Cnd) several years ago now at Forever 21 in Toronto and am delighted to say that it's still holding up well. I'll be heartbroken if it ever does give up the ghost and a fervent search will be undertaken to find a near identical replacement.

Absolutely LOVING that hat Jessica! 1940's style tilt hats are Deffinitely a favorite of mine (though I don't own many). Also, what a splendiferous treat to capture a rainbow in your picture!!!!:)xo-Madison www.1minniemuse.blogspot.com

That's a marvelous word for what it was, sweet dear - I couldn't agree more. Thank you very much for your lovely comment. Tilt hats are a huge favourite of mine, too - and when they're as versatile, classic, and pretty as this, it's impossible not to fall head-over-heels for them. I hope that you're able to add more to your own collection as time goes on.

Kate is very sweet, indeed! This hat is amazing, I loved it and I hope you do wear it many more times, cause you look amazing and the hat too! I loved the whole outfit - brooch, belt (especially this belt, awesome!) and pairing black and brown! I also wear black and brown and blue and black as well. Anything goes - clothes are, of course, important, show social change, personality, etc., but basically the fashion rules are "written" by... who, really? Clothes are basically meant to protect skin, and after that we should think of rules - so let's go on wearing colors that please us, black, brown, pink, blue, everything :) Hope you are fine and that you have a very nice week!DenisesPlanet.com

That is such a smart, open minded way to look at things, dear Denise. I couldn't agree more! Yes, certain colours harmonize better with each other than others, but as with all things in fashion, if it makes you happy, I say wear it!

Thank you very much for your lovely, cheerful comment. It's always such a pleasure to hear from you, my friend.

I always thought that black and brown didn't really go together, but I now have not one, but two, vintage-inspired dresses in that combination. One, a modern dress but with a 60s shift style, is a black-and-brown geometric print. It's adorable, though alas it's in a polyester that's pilling rapidly, so it will only last another season or two. The other, from NYC's fabulous vintage-inspired D. L. Cerney, is a mostly black slim & fitted dress, with brown trim and a matching brown bolero jacket. They've made a brown/black believer out of me! (Which is good, because as an old school New Yorker, probably 3/4 of my wardrobe is black, and the rest is colors that look good with black . . . )

Both of those dresses sound really lovely. It's getting harder and harder to find modern dresses (especially outside of the bridal wear sphere) with matching boleros or other styles of jackets, so it's extra great that you hit upon that one from D.L. Cerney. It's wonderful, too, that these stylish, classic frocks have helped make a believer in the wearing of black + brown together out of you. I hope that you find other pieces in this elegant combo as time goes on that you like every bit as much as those dresses, too.

Thank you very much, dear Lorena. That is my favourite photo as well simply because it's the first we've ever captured for the blog of me with a rainbow. Come to think of it, I don't know if there's ever been a photo of me with a rainbow before point blank. Hmmm? I might have to ask my mom if she remembers taking any, because I don't recall them, if she did. Hopefully we'll have other occasions to take more rainbow shots in the future. The season for them is generally very short lived here, but that's just all the more reason why we should try to make it happen in future springs.

Thank you very much, sweet Sara. I wonder, could a pale shade of brown - say something in the dark beige/sand or taupe family and black work well with your colouring? That way you'd get more of the contrast of a lighter/brighter hue, but still be able to sport this elegant pairing?

I'm thrilled to helped convert you to the black & brown side of the closet, dear gal. :) I wouldn't be the least bit surprised if this combo pops up here again in the fall and/or winter, so hopefully I can continue to help sway you on that front as time goes on.

Holy smokes! I can't believe you got that photo with the rainbow!!! How awesome! I've always loved black and brown together -- it smacks of sophistication and class. You look marvelous in that outfit, dear friend ... so ... early autumn!!! Hey, I see what you did there! ;)

?Balderdash, I say! Not only do the two look wildly sophisticated together, but pairing them can be a great way to breath new life into pieces that you own in both colours."

Oh my goodness, that line. I laughed out loud and nodded my head all at the same time, how perfect! I'm such a big fan of tilt hats, but the lack of good millenary around here as will as an interesting face shape has made me a bit wishy washy in my own wardrobe. However, nothing properly shouts vintage like a perfectly poised tilt hat. Oh I could look for hours and hours on pinterest of our darling vintage role models and actresses in their finery!

Likewise - and I've certainly been known to do just that on occasion. It's interesting to me that you would describe your face shape as such. I've never been struck in such a way and think that you are a classic beauty that could just as easily stepped out of the page of one of those swoon worthy vintage inspiration sources.

Thank you very much for your wonderful comment, dear Abigail. I hope that you have a sunny, enjoyable end of July!

Lovely like always, and I adore the hat! Sorry for the short comment today (and the overwhelming lack of comments in general lately) as this summer has been a whirlwind and sometimes I'm not even sure which way is up. In fact, I'm feeling rather like that lettuce leaf you mentioned.... hehe I'm still lurking around reading though. At odd hours. ;)Love the new lipstick too! It really suits you! <3

Hi lovely Rachel, aww, you are such a sweet, thoughtful person. Please don't worry for the tiniest of moments. It's a joy to hear from anytime, be it on each new post, once in a blue moon, or any frequency in between. I hope that the worst of the summer heat will soon die down on your and and that you'll feel more like your usual self come the first nippy winds of fall.

I've never really thought to put brown and black together, but they indeed work amazingly well in your chic outfit here. I don't have much brown in my wardrobe that isn't tan, but I have a feeling I'll be righting that wrong this autumn/winter... And, of course, what an amazing hat! You look fabulous and I can't believe that rainbow shot - jealous! x

Tan and black work beautifully together (as do tan and navy - a combo that does not see enough fashion play at all, if you ask me), so by all means feel free to mix them, if so desired.

That's very sweet of you to say, thank you! I'm thrilled about it, too. We whipped the car over onto the shoulder of the highway and were fortunate to get this snap (and a couple others) before the rainbow started to fade. It's the first time I can ever remember sharing a photo with one, but I really hope it won't be the last.

Jessica, hello!Here I am after a break due to a much-needed vacation in the mountains, plus my laziness!This look is absolutely fantastic, very sophisticated and feminine. I agree with you about the colors, it proves with this look perfect.The hat is very well done, you're fine, you're a diva!Congratulations and thank you for the photo with the rainbow, is magical !!!

How marvelous that you were able to get away for a massively needed vacation. I really don't think one will be in the cards for us this year, but perhaps once Tony gets home from the States, we can sneak away for a fun weekend road trip somewhere.

Thank you very much for your absolutely lovely comment. That photo really is a thrilling shot - I hope it's just one of many rainbow photos we're able to capture for the blog as time goes on.

Sometimes it takes little to feel on holiday even just an afternoon, but I wish you to spend a nice weekend with Tony .. and so I hope to see many, many rainbows in your posts and in our skies, my dear friend!One day you will be in Italy, it's safe, I just hope you will not be disappointed in my country ...a big kiss

We will definitely try! We both love to travel, so that helps to make things possible to a degree.

Oh, I am certain, with every ounce of my soul, that I would love and be in awe of Italy. Not only is it one of the oldest European countries, but its one of the most beautiful and historically rich - plus, and very importantly, it is where my beloved husband was born and raised, so I cannot help but have a perpetual love for it because of that fact alone. We'll get there together some day I know, but there are no such plans this year.

What a great ensemble, and so good to see that it isn't all super expensive vintage, just looks it! I particularly like that belt, I have a similar vintage one, but it is tiny, and doesn't go near me anymore, so I'll have to look in Forever 21. We have them in London now. Would never think of putting brown with black, but now I will have to think about it!

How awesome that F21 has hopped the pond! We don't have one in my town unfortunately - in fact, the nearest one is about 4.5 hours away, so I certainly don't get to it often. There is an online F21 Canada site, but it only stocks a mere fraction of the in store offerings and not much in the way of vintage appropriate pieces usually, so I don't buy much there. I got this belt several years ago now at one of the first F21's that opened in Toronto, when we lived there. Thankfully, even after tons of wearings, it's still holding up really well and I hope that it will continue to for a long time to come.

What a wonderfully nice compliment, sweet Christina. Thank you very much! This hat is such a gem - I couldn't imagine it not shining in the context of any outfit. I've worn it often this summer and though its straw, which tends to be more spring/summer related for hats (and bags), its colour palette and design make it such that I think it will work well for fall and winter, too, still - at least when its not raining or snowing. :)

Hi Mary, thank you very much for your comment and shared passion for this belt. I bought it at F21 several years ago back when we were living in Toronto, so I'd be shocked if they still had it, but they could have something similar. It's my favourite belt of all time and I'm really impressed with how well it's held up over the years, even with (very!) frequent wearings.

Thank you very much, dear Laurie. It really is, I agree. This is my first encounter with Tate Millinery and their beautiful offerings and I certainly hope that it won't be my last. Their period perfect offerings are the sort that any vintage hat loving lady would be thrilled to wear and I feel fortunate to be able to do just that now with this terrific topper.

I admit I have often been afraid of pairing black and brown together, I think the key is doing it with obvious intention! An all black outfit with just a brown pair of shoes would seem like you misplaced your brown shoes, but when styled as you have in this outfit, the black and brown work together very well! I have only recently started adding brown into my closet but I will have to try such a pairing soon. The hat is lovely! This saucer/tilt shape is one of my favorites too!

Very good point - one does not want the pairing to seem contrived at all, but rather like it happened organically and with ease, as though one had been sporting the pairing often for many, many years.

It's fabulous that you're starting to weave more brown into your wardrobe. It is such a fantastic colour! I own a fair bit, but would happily add more anytime. I love its warmth, its earth connections, and the fact that it plays so nicely with my colouring to boot - plus, you know, it sings of autumn, our mutually favourite season, which is all the more awesome! :)

Thank you ever so much, Katie. Isn't that belt the bee's knees? I bought it several years ago when were were living in Toronto, have worn it countless times since, and am delighted to say that it's still holding up really well to this day. It's my favourite belt that I've ever owned, so I really hope that it sticks around for a long time more to come.

You lucky gal, that hat is such a charmer. And you look absolutely stunning wearing black and brown. I know the old saying for sure, but have never thought that it was a golden rule. And now you have just buried it. ;) Your belt is lovely too, you get a really great figure in this set. I'm in an Autumn mood too, since we have nothing but cold and bad weather in Denmark this summer, so why not just cancel the rest of it and move directly to Autumn, which I love. I'm sick and tired of getting dissappointed. Wishing you a fabulous day, dear. :) I am sure you are counting down to Autumn too, where your darling returns. ;)

You know, as much as I don't want to rush summer along (I madly adore its heat, its long hours of daylight, and its relaxed vibe), I'm started to feel like I'm in a very autumnal mood as well. I've begun brainstorming fall blog post and (my) Halloween costume ideas alike and am suddenly sort of want it to be October again. It will get here soon enough though, of that I'm certain. This whole year is flying past at the speed of light and we're just along for the ride! :)

Thank you very much for your lovely comment and compliments. It's great to know that you're a fan of this elegant colour pairing as well.

Tons of hugs & happy end of July wishes, dear Sanne!♥ Jessica

*PS* I received your wonderful email (re: vintage fashion for women over 40) and really appreciate the time and thought that you put into it. Look for a reply from me in the near future.

It's outfits like this that call for a bunch of 1940's adjectives that we don't use to describe clothes anymore. Like "smart." What a smart little ensemble! And "trim". Such a nice, trim look. Lovely, just lovely.

Insightful, wonderfully lovely summary of this ensemble, Megan. Thank you very much. I know precisely what you mean and often reach for older adjectives when speaking about vintage topics myself, too. They, not surprisingly, just go together so marvelously.

Thank you very much, sweet Kate. Isn't that hat terrific? It's so classic and chic, versatile and stylish! I know I wear wear it on a regular basis and that it will blend seamlessly with many 40s and 50s looks alike.

Thank you very much, darling gal. The older I get, the more I want to wear outfits either like this, or that have a great vintage boho-ness to them (like the plaid shirt outfit I Instagrammed earlier this month), pretty much all the time. :)

Fabulous as always, darling! I've never understood the rule against mixing black and brown, and this is perfect proof why. You've managed to put together something that is simultaneously subdued and eye catching, and the simple color palette really shows off your shape beautifully. That is a darling hat, I'm glad that it inspired such a great outfit.Cheers//Jessica

Thank you for your marvelously lovely comment, my dear friend. I too have always been puzzled by the whole "no black + brown together" concept and think it likely has to be something that's come about relatively recently (aka, in the last 50 years), as we saw a lot more of these two hues partnered together in the early and mid-twentieth century.

Many thanks again & have a Friday that is every bit as fantastic as you!♥ Jessica

Thank you very much, my lovely friend. It's a great little mid-century style topper. Classic, light as a weather, and a snap to style with a wide range of outfits. I especially like it for these toasty summer months, as it's very breathable. That said, I'm already planning autumn outfits involving it for the moment the temps dip again. :)

Thank you very much, sweet gal! That is really is perfect, I'm with you there completely. Not only is a dead ringer for a genuine mid-century offerings, but it's light as a feather, pretty as a picture, and so easy to style with a wide range of outfits - a dream "everyday" vintage style hat, really.

I soooo was!!! Unless it happened before when I was too young to remember it, I've never been photographed with a rainbow before and it was definitely on my "photo shoot bucket list". Fingers crossed it's able to happen again in the future, too. Wouldn't it be amazing if, by pure coincidence, it did when I was wearing one of my vintage rainbow hued dresses? That would be so cool!

Many hugs and sincere thanks for all of your wonderful recent blog comments,♥ Jessica

I'm Jessica, a lifelong lover of all things antique and vintage, especially those from the 1930s, 40s and 50s.

This blog is my visual scrapbook in which I record and share my thoughts on the multitude of sources, people and products that inspire and feed a modern gal's addiction to the past. I also post about the vintage clothes, hairstyles and make-up looks that I adore wearing.

Stay a spell and have a blast as we explore the incomparably fantastic world of vintage history and fashion together.

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